Sk8man

Basically you can do "all of the above" with a rig. The Sutton's are quite speed sensitive and if you're after lakers trolling slowly at 1.5-2.2 seems to work pretty well but they can be caught at higher speeds too and some Sutton's like the #88's will run at high speed and catch good fish if run together (e.g. 5 of them) and not with smaller spoons and they generate some torque too and you can tell when they are at the top of the range by your rod tip (bobs up and down in rhythm). One of the reasons the #44 is popular is because it tolerates speed pretty well. The Finger Lakes Tackle spoons should run fine on rigs but I would be running them together rather than mixed with other stuff if you plan to troll at the upper part of the range and want to get the most out of them. When "prospecting" using a mixture of spoons and sizes can be productive and then change out to all similar size/color spoons that caught fish on one of the rigs (if running more than one). I would recommend ss stranded wire for a main line but it requires a roller tip too. The dacron is OK but has quite a bit of drag in the water...if used go with a heavier sinker (36-40oz. vs. 32 with wire). I tried 50 lb Power Pro braid for rig lines twice and both times it cut off by going over the side of the roller soI gave up on that but some of my friends still use it...but braid sucks in flea season. 30 lb Big Game mono works fine for rig lines...I usually set mine up with 12 ft. intervals so that if a I fish shallow (less than 100 ft.) I can put 5 short leaders on (say 10 ft long) or if I go deep I can set them up for 24 or 36 (three leader) Nice to have options. Although I've used leaders up to 40 ft. without major problems my preference is about 15-18 ft (if winter/cold weather fishing 12 ft.)and if you use 24 ft intervals and your motor conks out they don't tangle together that way. By the way you can troll at just about any speed with rigs if you stay compatible with lure choices but varying your speed is essential. When I'm after rainbows specifically I often run at 2.5-3.2 but I make sure my lures work there and are compatible with the others on that rig. You can also run cowbells or dodgers or even spin docs/flys (best singly) on your rig. I used to run cowbells and peanuts at the bottom with four leader above it but there is a lot of "drag". I've even run dipseys with flasher/fly off mine before. They are very versatile and the most common complaint regarding rigs is that they are "too heavy and you can't feel the fish as well" Try saying that as you hand line in multiple big rainbows or landlocks....it easily dispels that myth There are a number of good rig fishermen on here so maybe they have other ways or additional things to add too.

Most of us have "been there" too Joe.....just gets you ramped up for "next time" when you may end up kicking butt....you never know with this stuff.Good luck Sunday. Les I'm heading out in a few minutes here on Canandaigua but I don't have real high hopes after that last derby here....going after rainbows and browns today.

Hi Ted, That is pretty much where I start of too Ted (Pump station to German Bros then cut across to Thendara). I'll be in my 18 ft Boston Whaler with the 135 Salt Water Merc Optimax (blue writing) I'm hoping for a 5AM or so start maybe see you out there.

At least you got out there....I waited for the wind to lie down but it didn't so I didn't go. Thinking about early tomorrow morning.....funny I almost went right at the time you did but got doing other stuff around home.... Thanks for the info.

43, 35, and 22 for mine ...

Ed, I know you are correct on that as Seneca has both types of fleas big time and I'm keeping the Sea Flee stuff handy and I always take a couple setups of the SF with me as well so I can just switch over to them but I figured it is worth experimenting to see first hand as I switched from12 to thirty and I sure know how the 12 lb worked out ....nothing like having a good fish on and not being able to reel in your line

I've used Blood Run Sea Flee for last season and this one so far and it is very good at keeping the fleas off the main line (30 lb) and in my view better than Flea Flicker because it is round. On the other hand it has a LOT of stretch to it. so I pulled it off two of my downrigger reels and went back to 20 lb Big game on them for this season to compare. The 30 lb Big Game on downriggers seems like rope to me after using 12 lb for all these years even for kings so I went with 20 even though I know it may attract fleas...I can always put the Sea Flee back on them if too bad. Rusty rat you may want to just increase the number of twists in the loop before putting it in the arm of the release it solved most of it for me (some of the"slippage" may be the large amount of stretch in the sea Flee line itself)

It would seem that like a lot of things in life this situation is a double edged sword....and the time honored concept of "balance" is key to making it come outright. On the one hand if you guys(and perhaps others) hadn't touted the great fishing there DEC might not have realized what an important fishery it can be but on the other hand it is not a real big body of water and potential "over fishing" is a concern since natural reproduction isn't occurring with noticeable frequency. It also appears to me that the uninitiated or inexperienced Walleye and Tiger fishermen without very specific knowledge or capabilities are going to be struggling somewhat to effectively fish it. The fact that fishing it at night is the most productive time/method many folks will not be all that gung ho or comfortable to be launching and traveling around in the dark, and it is a distance to travel to from many areas of the state where high densities of fishermen may have it easier to get to other (perhaps less desirable though) alternatives. I guess human nature is such also that folks move on to other things (and places) pretty quickly these days....so maybe things will turn out better than suspected. As long as the DEC and State see it as viable and worth $$$ they will continue to keep it going....but "reminders" can be important

Good luck Al.

I think the max might be 13-14 gal. for that model and year.

I think Kinger might be slipping in spoons that don't work in the pics because he knows that Ed is too generous with info Go Kinger!

Al I think there are some there but certainly not like in years past when the weed beds were extensive there. It may be worth trolling with (floppy heavier) spoons (like daredevles etc.) run way back at the edge of weed beds or casting back in from outside the edges. I'd checkout the area on the west side from the arterial bridge to the golf course and the area north of the high banks on the east side in about 20 ft of water a little deeper if it is real clear back to Melon's Cove.

Hey Guff - Those big ole boys were in there in the late Fall and early winter too as well as north toward the swimming area casting from shore.

Don't